Materials Planner

ForceBrands; Minnesota; Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Paid holidays

401(k)

Job summary

ForceBrands is seeking an experienced buyer and materials planner to own daily ingredient and packaging purchasing and materials planning. You will report to the Strategic Sourcing Manager, dedicating 60–70% of time to buying and 30–40% to planning, ensuring production runs smoothly while meeting food safety and quality requirements.

You will build POs, manage supplier relationships, coordinate deliveries, and monitor inventory, shelf life, and usage.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of purchase-order processes and materials planning.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems for purchasing, order tracking, and reporting (NetSuite preferred).
• Strong Excel and data analysis skills.
• Clear written and verbal communication with suppliers and partners.
• Ability to manage priorities and adapt purchasing plans to changing needs.

Responsibilities

• Use forecasts, schedules, BOMs, and open PO data to calculate material needs by facility.
• Create, issue, update, and close purchase orders with approved suppliers and pricing.
• Confirm material readiness and monitor shelf life, usage, and inventory risks.
• Maintain NetSuite planning data and related purchasing records.
• Coordinate deliveries, samples, and documentation with logistics and QA.

Skills

Purchase order processes

Materials planning

Inventory management

ERP/MRP systems

NetSuite experience

Excel

Data analysis

Communication

Record keeping

Prioritization

Adaptability

Food industry experience

Tools

NetSuite

Job description

Estimated salary range:

$70,000–$90,000 USD annually

Compensation varies by experience. Benefits include paid time off, paid holidays, and a 401(k).

About the Company

Our client is a food company that works with manufacturing partners. We coordinate sourcing, production, quality, logistics, and finance to deliver products to customers.

About the Role

You will own daily ingredient and packaging purchasing and materials planning, reporting to the Strategic Sourcing Manager. Your work will help keep production running while meeting food safety and quality requirements. Approximately 60–70% of your time will focus on buying and 30–40% on planning.

What You'll Do

• Use forecasts, production schedules, bills of materials, inventory, and open purchase orders to calculate material needs by manufacturing facility.
• Create, issue, update, and close purchase orders using approved suppliers, pricing, and purchasing parameters. Confirm orders and resolve delays, shortages, and partial shipments.
• Confirm material readiness before production. Monitor usage, seasonal availability, shelf life, aging, and excess inventory; coordinate consumption priorities with Operations and Quality Assurance.
• Schedule contract releases, track remaining balances, and maintain accurate NetSuite planning and purchasing data with the appropriate system and item-data owners.
• Enter sales orders and coordinate deliveries and material transfers with Logistics. Follow up on certificates of analysis, bills of lading, and approval documents.
• Investigate purchasing and invoice discrepancies, reconcile purchase orders with Finance, and support supplier nonconformance follow-up with Quality Assurance. Escalate issues requiring sourcing decisions.
• Maintain reports on shortages, open orders, inventory risks, and contract balances.
• Work with Production Planning, manufacturing partners, Logistics, Quality Assurance, Research and Development, and Finance. Coordinate samples, trial quantities, and initial deliveries after sourcing direction and required approvals.

What Success Looks Like

• Materials are ready for approved production plans, with shortages and quality risks identified and escalated promptly.
• Purchase orders, contract balances, and purchasing records are accurate and current.
• Suppliers and internal teams have clear updates on delivery timing, open issues, and next steps.
• Daily purchasing runs reliably, allowing the Strategic Sourcing Manager to focus on longer-term sourcing and contracts.

What You Bring

• Knowledge of purchase-order processes, materials planning, inventory management, and manufacturing supply needs.
• Experience using enterprise resource planning or material requirements planning systems for purchasing, order tracking, and reporting. NetSuite experience is preferred; other systems are welcome.
• Strong Excel and data analysis skills.
• Clear written and verbal communication, including direct follow-up with suppliers and manufacturing partners.
• Ability to maintain accurate records, manage competing priorities, and adapt purchasing plans as customer and production needs change.
• Willingness to ask questions, apply feedback, resolve mistakes, and take increasing ownership as you learn.
• Food industry experience is preferred. Relevant experience in adjacent industries will also be considered.

You will begin with training in our systems and daily purchasing processes, working closely with the Strategic Sourcing Manager. As you build proficiency, you can take greater ownership of day-to-day work and contribute to broader projects.

Location & Work Arrangement

Work arrangement: Hybrid

In-office Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday; remote Tuesday and Friday.

ForceBrands is committed to equal opportunity and does not discriminate against any employee, applicant, or candidate in hiring, recruiting, or referral on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.